Projectile



J. I. MISENER.

PROJECTILE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 13. 1916.

, Patented Nov. 4, 1919. IIII IA-W 2 SHEETS-SHEET I ATTORNEY J. I. MISENER PROJECTILE.

APPLICATION mzo DEC.'I3. 1916.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' ATTOR EV UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN I. MISENER, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH '1'0' CLIFFORD H. SEAR/L, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

PROJECTILE.

1,321,068. Specification of Letters Patent. t t 1919.

Application filed December 13, 1916. Serial No. 136,591. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN I. MISENER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Projectile, of which the'following is a specification.

This invention has for its object a particularly simple and highly efficient projectile of which the following is a specification.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction whereby a rotary motion is set up by the resistance of the air to the movement of the projectile.

Another object of my invention is to provide a projectile with arms or triggers which when coming into contact with an obstruction will operate to explode the disruptive charge.

Another object is to provide means extending from the projectile for cutting barb Wire entanglements, etc.

Other objects will appear throughout the specification.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all of the views.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my projectile, parts being shown in elevation and parts being broken away.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the plane of line 33, Fig. 2, looking to the right, the arms or triggers being shown in their outward or operative position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the means for releasing the arms.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5, Fig. 1, looking to the left.

Fig. 6 is an inner face view of a fragment of the casing of the disruptive chamber.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7, Fig. 3.

This invention comprises generally a projectile having a body containing an explosive, rotating means, as arms, mounted within the periphery of the body of the projectile, formed with inclined faces, means tending to move the arms outwardly a predetermined distance, means normally holding said arms from outward movement, means operated by the explosion of. the propelling charge for releasing said holding means, means for holding the arms from movement by the moving means beyond the predetermined distance, and means operated by the arms, when moved beyond the predetermined distance for firing the explosive.

1 is the body of this projectile, which is here shown as cylindrical in general outllne, and having a reduced central portion 2, this forming front and rear ends 3 and 4 of larger diameter.

5 is the shell containing the propelling charge and is here shown as fixed to the rear end of the body 4 in the usual manner.

6 are the arms or triggers which are here shown as pivoted at 7 near the rear end 4 to spring-pressed members 8 slidably held in said rear end.

When in their inoperative position, the arms 6 extend forwardly from their pivot 7 along the periphery of the reduced central portion 2 of the body 1, within the periphery of the enlarged ends 3 and 4 and are held in this position against the action of springs 9 to be hereinafter described, by a holding means, here shown as a ring 10, of wire tightly drawn around the outer surfaces of said arms 6, and through a means 11 for releasing said holding means.

The releasing means 11, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, is a rod slidably mounted in a passage 12 extending through the enlarged rear end 4 of the body 1 and opening out through the rear end 13 thereof, into the shell 5 containing the propelling charge.

The rear end of the rod 11 is provided with'a head 14, forming a piston, of larger diameter and the rear face 15 thereof is normally flush with the rear end face 13 of the end 4.

The end of the passage 12 is enlarged to closely fit the outer diameter of the head 14, and is of a greater depth than the head to allow the piston to move forward a short distance, a packing 16-of resilient materlal fills the space between the head 14 and the end face of the enlarged portion of the passage 12.

The rod 11 extends forwardly along the reduced central portion 2 of the body and is supported near the forward end thereof in a passage 17 of a lug 18 extending therefrom. I

The lug 18 is formed with a passage 19 intersecting the passage 17, and. the rod 11 is formed with a passage 20 therethrough, alined witlrthe passage 19. The ring 10 is passed through the alined passages 19,20, and around the free ends of the arms 6. Obviously, upon the explosion of the pro: pelling charge in the shell 5, the rod 11' will be forced forward, and the coacting edges of the alined passages 19 and 20, in the lug 18 and rod 11, will shear or cut the ring 10,

thus releasing the arms 6.

' The spring-pressed members 8 are here shown as sliding bolts having shanks 21 and heads 22. The shanks 21 areslidably mounted in the rear end 4 of the body 1, in passages 23. The front wall 24 of the rear end4 is recessed as at 25, thus forming a shoulder 26 around the outer peri hery thereof and the passages 23 extend t rough the enlarged rear end 4 from the bottom of the recess 25 to the rear end face 13. The rear ends of the passages 23 are'of larger diameter than the front ends thereof, forming shoulders 27 and the ends of the enlarged .portions', which communicate with the chamber containing the propelling charge, are closed, as by'plugs 28. i H

The shanks 21 of the members '8 are formed with shoulders 29 opposed to the shoulders 27 formed in the passages 23 and are here shown, Fig. 1, as nuts 30 threading on the rear end thereof. Coiled springs 31 are interposed between the shoulders 27 and 29, thereby holding the heads 22 of the members 8 tensioned against the bottom face of the recess'25 of the rear end. Obviously, by adjusting the nuts 30, the tension of the members 8 is readily controlled.

-' "The-springs 9 for bringing The heads 22 of the members 8 are bifurcated, as at 32, forming ears 33 between which the arms 6 are pivoted and are located within the outer periphery of the enlarged portions ofthe body 1 extending inwardly'to the reduced central portion 20 of the body and being formed to slidably fit the outer periphery of said reducedportion.

My projectile is here shown as provided with the'usual driving ring 34, Figs. 1, 2 and 4, embedded in the enlarged rear end portion 4 of the body 1, and of slightly larger diameter than said end portion. The object of this ring is primarily to form a gas band, but when used in conjunction with a rifled gun barrel, the ring is forced into the spiral grooves of the barrel, which gives the projectile a twisting movement and revolves the same around the axis of the line of travel of said projectile. l

\ As the riding 'of gun barrels and the cooperation of the same with the driving rings are Well-known to those skilled in the artyfurther description of the same is thought to be unnecessary and the rifled gun bai'r'ellias notbeen shown. 7

the arms into springs, having their ends 35 fixed in the frontfaces 36 of the cars 33 of the spring tcnsioned members 8, and extending forwardly, pass under the arms 6in front of .the pivot 7 thereof and are in the path of and tensioned by said arms when sald arms are being placed in their. inoperative p081 tiens within'the periphery of the body of the projectile.

Obviously, the springs may be dispensed with whengthe rifled gun barrel is used, as

the rotating movement set up by said rifiing will move the arms outwardly by the centrifugal force of the projectile.

when the arms '6 are thrown outwardly to their operative position by the actionof the springs '9, combined with the centrifugal force of the'projectile, they are stopped at approximately a right angleto the line of travel of the projectile by the back face 37 thereof coming into contact with the shoulder 26 formed on the rear end 4 of the body. Further movementof the arms being against the resistance of the coiled springs 31, which is suflicient to overcome the air resistance, against the arms set up by the movement'of the projectile. I

In this embodiment of my invention, I have shown means in addition to the coiled springs 31 for holding the members 8 from forward movement and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a comparatively small pin 38 is passed through one of the ears 33 of the head of the members 8 and extends into the reducedcentral portion 20f the body 1.

'Means for giving ail-additional rotating movement to'the projectile is provided on the arms 6. when intheir operative or' outward position, and is accomplished by beveled surfaces extendin from near the back 37 of the arms to the fi inclined faces 39, which extend from a point near the pivot 7 of the arms approximately the entire length thereof. Theextreme ends v of the arms are formed hooked-shaped, as at 40, the points 41 thereof extending for wardly when in extended position.

By beveling the arms from the back edge 37 thereof to the point, the forward part thereof forms a, knife-like edge 39 which is very eiiicicnt in cutting and brealiing up barbed wire entanglements and the like.

The free endsof the arms 6 extend into grooves 42 in the rear face 43 ofthe en larged front end'3 ofthe body when the arms are int-heir inoperative positiom'and are held from lateral displacement thereby.

The front end 3 of the body is here shown as a hollow casing for containingthe disruptive charge, as shrapnel shot and an explosive, and 15 provided with the usual reont'thereof, forming movable nose-piece 44, which contains an impact fuse 45 of any desirable construction. r

The walls of the casing and nose-piece are constructed so as to be more readily broken into small fragments by thedisruptive charge, and as here shown are formed with comparatively weak portions 46 intersecting each other, which surround portions of greater thickness and strength. The metal of the casing converges inwardly from the intersecting weak portions, thus forming pyramids with the apices 47 thereof pointing inwardly.

The reduced central portion 2 of the body 1 is hollow as shown at 2, Fig. 1, and communicates with the hollow shell 3 containing the disruptive charge, thus increasing the area of said disrupting chamber.

The arms 6 when in their outward or cooked position, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, act as triggers for operating a means for discharging the disruptive chamber, said means is here shown as firing pins or rods 48, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, extending along the reduced central portion 2 of the body, between the arms 6, and slidably supported in lugs 49, 50, extending therefrom.

In the drawings, I have shown my projectile as having two firing pins and four arms or triggers, and each firing pin is operated by either or both of a pair of the arms or triggers.

Each firing pin 48 is here shown as naving a cross-head 51 at-its rear end which ex-. tends in front of one of the cars 33 of a pair of the spring 'tensioned bolts 8, the crosshead 51- is held against the ears 33 by a coiled spring 52 interposed between the cross-head and the supporting lug 50.

The forward end of the firing pin terminates near the rear face'43 o-f'the front end 3 and is alined with a. passage 53 in the rear face 43, said passage communicating with the disruptive charge chamber. Priming caps are placed in the passages 53 and are ignited by the forward movement of the firing pins.

When in use, the arms are held in their inoperative position by the bands 10. Upon the explosion of the propelling charge, the arms are released by the means 11 and are thrown to their operative or cocked position by the springs 9, and are held in said position by the spring tensioned members 8 and the pins 38. The arms in this position, present the inclined faces 39 to action of the air resistance set up by the velocity of the projectile and revolve said projectile upon the axis of its line of trajection. The cutting edges 39 are also in a position to operate upon any obstruction to which they come in contact.

When any one of the arms come into contact with an obstruction, it is forced backwardly and the rear face 37 thereof fulcrums upon the shoulder 26, forcing the bolts 8 forwardly against the action of the spring 31, and shearing or cutting the other holding means 38.

The forward movement of the bolts 8 operates the firing pins 48 which fire the disruptive charge.

A projectile, as described, is comparatively afe to handle before being placed in the gun barrel as all of the parts are securely held from operation.

The additional revolving motion set up by the arms and the resistance offered there by eliminates the possibility of the projectile not hitting nose first, and therefore, not exploding the same and gives a projectile of comparatively low trajection.

The arms with their cutting edges and hooks and the means operated thereby to explode the disruptive charge are very efficient for bringing down air craft, breaking up barbed wire entanglements and the like and eliminate the possibility of the projectile passing through such obstructions with out exploding.

What I claim is:

1. A projectile having a reduced central portion, arms pivotally mounted near the reduced central portion within the outer periphery of the projectile, means tending to move the arms outwardly beyond the periphery, means normally holding said arms from outward movement, and means operated by the'firing of the projectile for releasing said holding means, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A projectile having a reduced central portion, and enlarged front and rear ends, arms pivotally mountednear the rear end of the reduced central portion, and extending forwardly within the periphery of the enlarged ends, means tending to move the arms outwardly upon their pivots beyond the periphery of the enlarged .ends, means normally holding said arms from outward movement, and means operated by the firing of the projectile for releasing said holding means, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A projectile having a reduced central portion, and enlarged front and rear ends, arms pivotally mounted near the rear end of the reduced central portion, extending forwardly within the periphery of the enlarged ends, and provided with inclined faces, means tending to move the arms outwardly upon their pivots beyond the pe-.

rip'hery of the enlarged ends, means normally holding said arms from outward movement, and means operated by the firing of the projectile for releasing said holding means, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A projectile having a reduced central portion and enlarged front and rear ends, arms privotally mounted near the rear end of the reduced central portion and extending forwardly within the periphery of the enlarged ends, means tending to move the arms outwardly, upon their pivots beyond the periphery of the enlarged ends, means normally holding said arms from outward movement, a rod, one end thereof having an enlarged head forming a piston slidably mounted in the enlarged rear end, communieating with the propelling charge chamber, and operated by the firing of the propelling charge to release the'holding means, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A projectile having a reduced central portion and enlarged front and rear ends, arms pivotally mounted near the rear end of the reduced central portion and extend ing forwardly within the periphery of the enlarged ends, means tending to move the arms outwardly upon their pivots beyond the periphery of the enlarged ends, a rod, one end thereof having an enlarged head forming a piston slidably mounted in the enlarged rear end and communicating with the propelling charge chamber, the other end extending forwardly and slidably mounted in a lug extending from the reduced central portion, alined passages in the lug and rod, a ring encircling the arms and threaded through the alined passages, nor mally holding the arms from outward movement, forward movement of the rod by the propelling charge, cutting the ring, substantially as and for the purpose described. 6. A projectile having a body containing an explosive and a nose-piece containing an impact fuse for firing the explosive when the nose-piece comes in contact with an obstruction, additional firing means as arms mounted within the periphery of the body,

means tending to move the arms outwardly a predetermined distance, means normally holding said arms from outward movement, means operated by the firing of the projectile for releasing said holding means, means for holding said arms from movement by the moving means beyond the predetermined distance, and means operated by the arms when moved beyond the predetermined distance to fire the explosive, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7 A projectile havinga reduced central portion, and enlarged front and rear ends, the front end and the reduced central portion being hollow and containing an explosive and the front end being provided with a nose-piece containing an impact fuse for firing the explosive when the nose-piece comes in contact with an obstruction, priming caps located in the rear of the enlarged front end and communicating with the explosive therein, arms pivotally mounted near the rear. end of the reduced central portion and extending forwardly within the periphery of the enlarged ends, means tending to move the arms outwardly a predetermined distance, means normally holding said arms from outward movement, means operated by the firing of the projectile for releasing said holding means, means for holding said arms from movement by the moving means beyond the predetermined distance and a rod slidably mounted within the periphery of the body and operated by the arms when moved beyond the predetermined distance to explode the priming caps, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 7th day of December, 1916.

JOHN I. MISENER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

